Health Ministry Halts MKU Oral Health Programme, Seeks Transition Plan

By Staff Writer

Hundreds of students face uncertainty after the Ministry of Health ordered Mount Kenya University to discontinue its Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme.

In a letter dated February 3, 2026, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the degree does not align with the country’s oral health service delivery needs.

The letter, addressed to Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi, states that the programme is not linked to any clearly identified service delivery gap in the public health system.

“As currently structured, the programme is not aligned with the prevailing oral health population needs of the country,” Duale wrote.

The ministry said there is no clearly established service delivery gap that the degree seeks to address, raising concerns about its relevance within the health workforce framework.

Duale warned that students risk investing time and money in a qualification without a defined pathway to professional practice.

“Students enrolled in the programme risk expending time and financial resources without a viable pathway to professional practice,” he said.

The CS advised the university to discontinue the programme and ensure its health courses respond to identified population health needs and service delivery gaps.

He directed the institution to consult the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council and develop a transition plan for affected students.

The plan should cover those who have completed the course and those currently enrolled. It must outline clear transition arrangements in line with applicable regulatory requirements.

The university has been given 21 days to submit the transition plan to the Cabinet Secretary’s office for information and record purposes.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards and the Director-General for Health.

The directive raises questions about the approval and monitoring of specialised health training programmes and the safeguards in place to protect students from regulatory gaps.